BARRETT AGGRESSIVE IN FINAL WISCONSIN DEBATE: Democrat Tom Barrett focused on the John Doe probe of Scott Walker’s aides while the sitting governor attacked the Milwaukee mayor on crime. "I have a police department that arrests felons," Barrett shot back. "He has a practice of hiring them." http://bit.ly/JR3S1N

Story Continued Below

BILL CLINTON will rally with Barrett in Milwaukee this morning while South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley stumps with Walker in Sussex.

BARRETT INTERNAL: Walker, 50; Barrett. 48. The survey, in the field Tuesday and Wednesday, found Barrett leading 56-42 among those who did not vote in 2010.

TWO BIG QUESTIONS FIVE DAYS OUT –

HOW MUCH WILL JOHN DOE MATTER? The Associated Press reports that a former Walker spokeswoman was granted immunity Thursday in connection with the investigation that has led to criminal charges against six people close to Walker. Fran McLaughlin is “the 13th person whom prosecutors have agreed not to charge in exchange for their testimony in their so-called John Doe investigation, in which hearings and court documents are private and only immunity grants are made public.” Madison paper: http://bit.ly/Kkmjv2. Milwaukee paper: http://bit.ly/KwVa6E.

HOW MANY UNION VOTES CAN WALKER WIN? Craig Gilbert, the state’s top political reporter, explains in the Journal Sentinel that Democratic hopes depend on maximizing union turnout against Walker BUT the rank-and-file is not monolithic. Walker won 37 percent of union households in his 2010 match-up with Barrett, which is about what he’s pulling now in public polls. “If that doesn’t change, then congratulations, they will have formed their own suicide squad,” says former Democratic congressman David Obey. http://bit.ly/KDmqk5

Meanwhile, the reforms are having their desired effect of weakening labor. The Wall Street Journal reports that “public-employee unions in Wisconsin have experienced a dramatic drop in membership—by more than half for the second-biggest union” since legislation curtailing collective bargaining passed. Behind pay wall: http://on.wsj.com/JWHYp3.

ARIZONA EXCLUSIVE – DCCC AD HITS KELLY ON MEDICARE: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s new commercial targeting Jesse Kelly features a Tucson construction worker named Noel Hatfield worrying aloud about whether he’ll lose benefits if the Republican wins the special election to replace Gabby Giffords. “I got my first construction job when I was 15 years old. Been paying into Medicare every paycheck since then, for over the last 37-plus years,” he says gently over soft music. “Jesse Kelly said that over time he’s going to get rid of Medicare. I don’t think its right for Jesse Kelly and people to decide that I don’t get my Medicare that I’ve been paying for.” Today’s Arizona Daily Star estimates that around $4 million total will be spent before the June 12 special election: http://bit.ly/LPkocw. The DCCC’s 30-second spot is part of a several-hundred-thousand-dollar ad buy: http://bit.ly/M5a4kp.

NRSC SNEAK PEEK – FOUR DEMS IN S.F. FOR FEINSTEIN FUNDRAISER: California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is hosting a fundraiser at her San Francisco home tonight for Heidi Heitkamp, Jon Tester and Bob Kerrey. Later this morning, the National Republican Senatorial Committee will send press releases into Montana, North Dakota and Nebraska pegged to the events. All three Democrats have downplayed party affiliation in their red states. Palling around with one of the Senate’s most liberal senators at a posh fundraiser could help GOP operatives undercut their desired narratives. Here is the invitation: http://bit.ly/KPgHpR. The Heartland Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee for the Democrats, distributed this background briefing material to potential donors: http://bit.ly/JWi1px.

As Elizabeth Warren takes a train to the Massachusetts Democratic convention, a judge blocks Florida’s new election law and Michigan’s attorney general investigates McCotter’s campaign, here’s POLITICO’s Morning Score: your daily guide to the permanent campaign.

WHAT OBAMA IS UP TO: At 9:15, the President will depart from the White House en route Minneapolis. At 11:45 CT, he will tour the Honeywell Golden Valley facility and then deliver remarks urging Congress to act on his “To Do List,” specifically his proposal to create a Veterans Jobs Corps to help Afghanistan and Iraq veterans get jobs as cops and firefighters. Then he has three campaign events/fundraisers at the Bachelor Restaurant in Minneapolis. POTUS arrives in Chicago at 4:20 CT. He has three fundraisers – one big, two small. He’ll overnight in Chicago – sleeping in his own bed.

WHAT ROMNEY IS UP TO: At 6 p.m. PT, he has a fundraiser in Los Angeles.

TONIGHT: Donald Trump speaks at the North Carolina Republican convention in Greensboro. http://bit.ly/NntAbz

NEW ROMNEY AD – “A BETTER DAY”: “What will be different about a Romney presidency?” a male narrator asks in Mitt Romney’s third ad of the general election campaign. “From day one, President Romney focuses on the economy and the deficit, unleashes America’s energy resources, and stands up to China on trade. President Romney’s leadership puts jobs first. BUT there’s something more than legislation or new policy. It’s the feeling we’ll have that our country’s back, back on the right track. That’s what will be different about a Romney presidency.” Watch: http://bit.ly/N370XY.

DRIVING CHICAGO’S DAY – ATTACKING ROMNEY’S ECONOMIC RECORD: Elected officials from Massachusetts will participate in a series of media conference calls in battleground states today to talk about “Romney’s economic record and failure to fulfill the economic promises he made when he was running for Governor.” The hit is three-prong: weak job creation, increased debt/deficits and higher taxes. Next week Bay State officials will travel to swing states to deliver the same message in person to voters. States with calls with MA officials today: Florida, Pennsylvania, Iowa, North Carolina, Colorado and Nevada. States with events on Monday: Iowa and New Hampshire. Ohio will follow.

NEW OBAMA WEB VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS GOP CRITICISM: Chicago is releasing a 90-second video that shows Romney’s Republican rivals, from Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman to John McCain and Rudy Giuliani, attacking Romney's economic record. You’ll recognize a lot of the clips from the 2008 and 2012 debates. The tagline: “It didn’t work then. It won’t work now.” Watch: http://bit.ly/KkvHyE.

RNC MESSAGING PREVIEW – “SCHMOOZE NOW, GOVERN LATER”: The Republican National Committee will attack “fundraiser-in-chief” Obama for spending too much raising money. This three-page research highlights clips that describe the president as consumed by fundraising: http://bit.ly/LQO4tU.

ROMNEY REQUIRED TO FILE FEC FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE TODAY: “The financial statement, which last year ran to 28 pages, is expected to show that Romney sold ‘nearly all’ his holdings in individual stocks since last year. Instead, he moved substantial wealth into cash,” Reuters reports. “Government officials said that although Romney legally was required to submit his financial disclosure to the Federal Election Commission by Friday, it was unclear whether officials there would immediately make it public. Before releasing the document, FEC lawyers will examine it for completeness and, if required information is missing, will work with the Romney campaign to fill holes. One official said that the FEC may take up to 30 days to review the document or could decide to release it immediately. The Romney campaign also has the option of publicly releasing the material.” http://reut.rs/KPIC9o

OFF MESSAGE—CLINTON CALLS ROMNEY’S BUSINESS RECORD “STERLING”: On CNN’s Piers Morgan show last night, the former president said Romney has the qualifications to be president even as he stressed that he backs Obama because he has the best plans to take the country forward. "I don't think that we ought to get into the position where we say 'This is bad work. This is good work,'" Clinton said of the private equity industry. Per CNN: “Clinton said there was no question Romney was capable of performing the ‘essential functions of the office.’ ‘The man who has been governor and had a sterling business career crosses the qualification threshold,’ Clinton said. Unlike some fellow Democrats, Clinton acknowledged Romney's time at Bain Capital formed a ‘good business career.’ He also acknowledged that the nature of private equity meant some companies inevitably fail.” http://bit.ly/K1v4o0

A TASTE OF WHAT’S TO COME – YESTERDAY WAS CYCLE’S NASTIEST DAY YET: Axelrod got heckled as he attacked Romney outside the Massachusetts State House, and Romney made a surprise appearance at Solyndra headquarters. “The twin scrums capped off the nastiest 24 hours of the campaign so far, a record almost surely to be exceeded in a season of bile and tit-for-tat,” Reid Epstein, Maggie Haberman and Glenn Thrush write. “Axelrod’s appearance in Boston, blocks away from Romney’s national headquarters in the shadow of the Old North Church — was a thumbed nose aimed at critics who say the Obama team has gone too negative in its attacks on Bain Capital. It was intended to provoke Romney, up to a point. But the optics were awful for the Obama campaign. Instead of a clean hit on their opponent, local coverage focused on the ambush and Axelrod’s futile attempts to restore order.” http://politi.co/KDjt3c

TOP ROMNEY TALKER—GIVES OBAMA AN “F” ACROSS THE BOARD: CBS’ Jan Crawford asked Romney to the grade the president. “No question about that,” he said, in assigning a failing grade – even on foreign policy. Story/video: http://cbsn.ws/M64rSY.

TOP OBAMA TALKER—ORDERED STEPPED-UP CYBERATTACKS ON IRAN: “From his first months in office, President Obama secretly ordered increasingly sophisticated attacks on the computer systems that run Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facilities, significantly expanding America’s first sustained use of cyberweapons, according to participants in the program,” The New York Times’ David Sanger writes on A1, an excerpt from his new book. “Mr. Obama decided to accelerate the attacks — begun in the Bush administration and code-named Olympic Games — even after an element of the program accidentally became public in the summer of 2010 because of a programming error that allowed it to escape Iran’s Natanz plant and sent it around the world on the Internet.” http://nyti.ms/KwZVgu

BATTLEGROUND BRIEFING—THE PATH TO 270:

JUDGE STRIKES DOWN PART OF FLORIDA ELECTION LAW: “A federal judge on Thursday struck down a key part of Florida's recently revamped election laws, saying the Legislature's restrictions have made it ‘risky business’ for third-party groups to register new voters,” Steve Bousquet and Marc Caputo report in the Miami Herald. “U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle told the state it cannot require groups to submit voter registration forms within 48 hours or face $1,000 fines. Nor can the state force those groups to disclose names of volunteers who don't collect the forms, Hinkle ruled.” ( http://bit.ly/L2fzft). Meanwhile, the Justice Department told the state to stop looking for noncitizen voters: http://bit.ly/N33FIn.

FLORIDA GOP EFFORT WILL BE BASED IN TAMPA: “In a departure from past presidential campaigns in Florida, the Romney campaign and Republican National Committee are basing their headquarters for turning out voters in Tampa, rather than in Tallahassee with the state GOP,” Adam Smith writes in the Tampa Bay Times. “The ‘Victory’ headquarters on Harbour Island just opened and is a two-minute drive from the Tampa Bay Times Forum, where Romney will accept the nomination in August.” http://bit.ly/N2YmbT

RNC-BACKED NEVADA SHADOW PARTY UP AND RUNNING: Jon Wards checked it out while in Vegas for the Trump fundraiser. “Team Nevada, as it is known, took up residence three weeks ago in a sprawling, 6,000 square-foot office between Buzz BBQ (‘$19.99 feeds two’) and Queen's Nail & Spa (‘Special Pedicure’ for $18.99). This is, apparently, what happens to the Republican Party establishment when Ron Paul supporters take over a state party, as they have here in the Silver State…About 10 staffers, split between the Republican National Committee and Romney's presidential campaign, are already there. More are coming next week. The burgeoning political operation is similar to the Victory efforts set up by the Republican National Committee in battleground states around the country, with two major differences. It has a different name, and it is getting ground game funding directly from the RNC, rather than through the state GOP.” http://huff.to/L2GYPP

SWING STATE ECONOMIES FAVOR OBAMA: “Some key battlegrounds are doing better than the nation as a whole. And even if the president’s policies didn’t cause the improvement, it could help his case that the economic outlook has brightened under his stewardship,” Ben White writes. “Headlines on weak jobs reports don’t help Obama. And he has only a few of those left, starting with Friday’s report, which is expected to show the economy added a mediocre 150,000 jobs in May. The stock market, which took a big hit in recent weeks as fears about Europe mounted, has a big impact on consumer confidence and voting behavior. A falling Dow often means a faltering incumbent. The economic situation faced by voters in swing states, though, is a major factor, one that also could hurt Obama in states that are doing worse than the national average, such as Florida.” POLITICO’s Ben White looked at the economies in Ohio, Nevada, Colorado, Virginia and Florida: http://politi.co/KkUOBm.

OBAMACARE—POTUS TELLING DONORS HE NEEDS MORE TIME TO REDO HEALTH CARE: “Obama is confiding to Democratic donors that he may have to revisit the health-care issue in a second term, a position at odds with his publicly expressed confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court will uphold the Affordable Care Act, according to three Democratic activists,” Bloomberg’s Han Nichols reports. “As he previewed his agenda for donors at a May 14 fundraiser, Obama said he may be forced to try to revise parts of his health-care plan, depending on how the court rules later this month, said one activist, who requested anonymity to discuss the president’s comments. Guests at the $35,800-a-plate dinner in the Manhattan apartment of Blackstone Group LP President Tony James were asked to check their smart phones and BlackBerries at the door.” http://buswk.co/LPCBGZ

GOP RELEASES MEMOS ON OBAMACARE DEAL MAKING: “Drugmakers led by Pfizer agreed to run a ‘very significant public campaign’ bankrolling political support for the 2010 health-care law, including TV ads, while the Obama administration promised to block provisions opposed by drug makers, documents released by Republicans show,” per Bloomberg’s Drew Armstrong. “The internal memos and e-mails for the first time unveil the industry's plan to finance positive TV ads and supportive groups, along with providing $80 billion in discounts and taxes that were included in the law. The administration has previously denied the existence of a deal involving political support. The documents were released [Thursday] by Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.” http://buswk.co/L2p5k9

GAY MARRIAGE—

APPEALS COURT STRIKES DOWN DOMA: “On Thursday, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the [Defense of Marriage Act’s] denial of an array of federal benefits to same-sex couples is unconstitutional, affirming a ruling by a federal judge in 2010. Opponents and supporters of gay marriage said the case is now almost certainly headed to the Supreme Court.” http://bit.ly/Ld08mX

MINNESOTAREFERENDUMWILLTEST OBAMA JUICE: The AP’s Patrick Condon raises the curtain on Obama’s visit to Minnesota by wondering whether his embrace of same-sex marriage could help defeat a Constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would toughen current limits on gay rights. “Voters in Washington, Maine and Maryland — three other states Obama won in 2008 — are expected to vote on gay marriage…Obama won 54 percent of the vote in the state and is expected to win it again this year, so opponents of the ban are hoping enough Minnesotans follow the president's self-described evolution on gay marriage so they can defeat it…Romney has yet to open an office in Minnesota…If [Minnesota] doesn't become a seriously contested presidential battleground, it's likely the amendment would fail if opponents could simply persuade everyone who votes for Obama to vote against the amendment.” http://bit.ly/JWIofg

CALIFORNIA SENATE PASSES BILL TO BAN GAY THERAPY: The state would become the first in the country to ban a form of therapy that tries to reverse homosexuality in children and teens. http://reut.rs/L2ebJw

ABORTION BILL FALLS IN HOUSE: “Republicans opened a new front in their battle against abortion Thursday, by calling a House vote on legislation to ban abortions conducted for the purposes of sex selection,” The Wall Street Journal’s Janet Hook reports. “But the bill, which would punish doctors who perform sex-selection abortions, failed to pass the House because GOP leaders brought it to a vote under fast-track procedures requiring a two thirds majority. The bill drew a 246-168 majority, but fell short of two thirds. House leaders could bring the bill back for a vote under standard procedures requiring only a simple majority, but have not committed to do so. In any event, the bill is not likely to pass the Democratic controlled Senate, so critics viewed the vote as a political ploy to appease anti-abortion activists who are especially important to the GOP in an election year.” http://on.wsj.com/Ld8A5v

PAUL SUPPORTERS LOOK TO DOMINATE WASHINGTON STATE CONVENTION: The Bellingham Herald raises the curtain on this weekend’s GOP confab. “Delegates supporting Ron Paul might not win over a majority of Washington Republicans today and Saturday at the party’s state convention, but their organizers urged them Thursday to ‘go forward from Tacoma to remake the Washington State Republican Party.’ That appeal came from Matt Dubin as he revved up a crowd of more than 200 Paul devotees at the Landmark Catering and Convention Center…Many in the crowd are running to be precinct committee officers, the neighborhood representatives who have a say in how the party runs. ‘We are the new activist branch of the Republican Party,’ Dubin said, ‘and soon, very soon, all GOP candidates will be forced to seek our support if they want any chance of success.’” http://bit.ly/KDkBUk

GARY JOHNSON QUALIFIES FOR FEDERAL MATCHING FUNDS: “The Federal Election Commission on Thursday announced that Libertarian Party presidential candidate and former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson has qualified for federal matching funds and that [he] will receive an initial payment of $100,000 in public funds,” according to New Mexico Watchdog. http://bit.ly/Me60B8

MASSACHUSETTS SENATE – DEMOCRATS EXASPERATED WITH WARREN: There’s more fallout and growing frustration with Warren’s inept and amateur handling of the affirmative action issue. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) told the Hill late Thursday afternoon: “There has to be an answer for this at some point, something that's full and comprehensive and has some closure to it as opposed to the way it's been dragged out — like water torture.” Asked if Warren and her campaign should put out all the information to put the story to bed, Lynch said "they probably should have done that probably four weeks ago." http://bit.ly/KPdoiB

WARREN BECOMES TEXTBOOK CASE OF BAD CRISIS MANAGEMENT: “Warren had learned an iron law of politics: Bad denials make little things big,” explain The Washington Post’s Dave Fahrenthold and Chris Cillizza. “The episode could have been a minor nuisance for the campaign. In a race in which the economy, jobs and debt are the overriding issues, it’s unlikely that whether Warren is Native American would matter all that much to voters. But Warren has turned what could have been a small problem into a major story line by not coming out with everything she knew about the episode from the start. At a news conference after a campaign event Thursday, her Republican opponent, Sen. Scott Brown, said that the controversy ‘goes to somebody’s character and it goes to their truthfulness and integrity, and it is up to the voters to decide how much that matters.’” http://wapo.st/JDp61K

IS A CREDIBILITY GAP EMERGING? – WARREN MADE DUBIOUS NURSING CLAIM: “I was the first nursing mother to take a bar exam in the state of New Jersey,” Warren told an audience at the Chicago Humanities Festival in 2011. But the Boston Herald notes that women have been taking the New Jersey bar exam since 1895. http://bit.ly/KPqLiK

DEM CONVENTION IS THIS WEEKEND: “Meeting at the MassMutual Center on Saturday, about 5,000 delegates to the Democratic State Convention are expected to vote to overwhelmingly endorse Warren for U.S. Senate over her only possible Sept. 6 primary opponent, Middleton immigration lawyer Marisa DeFranco,” the Springfield Republican reports. “Under party rules, DeFranco needs at least 15 percent of the convention vote to appear on the primary ballot.” http://bit.ly/MedVys

TEXAS SENATE – CRAIG JAMES ENDORSES DEWHURST: “Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst today got the endorsement of Craig James, the former ESPN football analyst who came in fourth in Tuesday’s GOP primary for U.S. Senate,” per the Austin American Statesman. “Dewhurst is locked in a competitive runoff with Ted Cruz, a former state solicitor general. The July 31 contest is expected to be tight. James earned less than 4 percent of the vote on Tuesday.” http://bit.ly/JDcxDx

VIRGINIA SENATE – KAINE PURCHASES $2.5 MILLION IN FALL AIRTIME: “Former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine purchased $2.5 million in fall TV time for his blockbuster Senate race with fellow former Gov. George Allen,” Roll Call reports. “The campaign announced the buy today along with its pre-primary fundraising. From April 1 to May 23, Kaine outraised Allen by about $450,000, raising more than $1.2 million to Allen’s $751,000. According to Allen’s fundraising report, which was filed on May 25, Allen spent $641,000 and had $2.75 million in cash on hand. Kaine’s report was filed today and not yet available online, but the campaign announced having $2.5 million left after spending $3 million — including the TV reservation expenditure.” http://bit.ly/KwTF8h

NORTH CAROLINA GOVERNOR – MCCRORY TOUTS CHARLOTTE AS MODEL IN FIRST AD: Republican gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory is going up with what his campaign calls a significant broadcast buy that touts his record as mayor of the state’s largest city. It’s his first of the general. The complete script (the candidate in a factory): “Okay, we’re struggling in North Carolina. But we’re still the best state in the nation. Let’s forget about politics for a while and think about us. That’s what we tried in Charlotte when I was mayor. People of all parties built that city into an economic powerhouse. I’d be honored to help do the same for North Carolina. I’m Pat McCrory, and I’m running for governor.” Watch: http://bit.ly/N2MTch.

CONNECTICUT HOUSE – DONOVAN AIDE CHARGED WITH CONSPIRACY: “Federal authorities have charged the finance director for state House Speaker Christopher Donovan’s congressional campaign with trying to hide campaign contributions of about $20,000, following an FBI undercover investigation of alleged influence-buying at the state Capitol,” the Hartford Courant reports. “Robert Braddock Jr., 33, the campaign employee, was arrested Wednesday, according to a variety of sources. The questionable contributions were made in connection with efforts to kill legislation that would have imposed new fees and taxes on certain kinds of tobacco retailers, according to the arrest warrant affidavit. Braddock has been terminated, Donovan said in a statement Thursday evening. Donovan also fired his campaign manager, Josh Nassi, sources said. Nassi worked for Donovan in the House Democrats’ caucus until he recently switched over to the campaign payroll…U.S. Attorney David B. Fein said the investigation is continuing.” http://bit.ly/LRgh3P

MICHIGAN HOUSE – AG PROBING CRIMINAL VOTER FRAUD IN MCCOTTER CASE: “The nomination petitions of U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter are under criminal investigation and the state's top attorney said Thursday he won't hesitate to prosecute those responsible for potential criminal voter fraud,” The Detroit News’ Marisa Schultz reports. “Attorney General Bill Schuette announced the probe following referral from the Secretary of State's Bureau of Elections that 87 percent of the petition signatures were invalid. ‘We will follow the facts, without fear or favor,’ Schuette said in a statement. McCotter has said he trusted his longtime team to handle the signature gathering. At least 1,000 valid signatures were required to get on the ballot. McCotter said he intends to launch a write-in campaign and assist Schuette ‘as they see fit.’” http://bit.ly/KQjy1v

LIGHTER CLICKS –

PAM BONDI, the Florida attorney general who postponed her wedding over the weekend, tells the Miami Herald that she still plans to marry: http://bit.ly/NnbExz.

GEORGE W. BUSH gave a very funny speech after his portrait was unveiled at the White House yesterday. 7-minute video: http://bit.ly/KwOnd2.

NANCY REAGAN endorsed Romney in a statement yesterday after Mitt and Ann dropped by her Los Angeles home for lemonade and cookies. Handout photo: http://on.msnbc.com/KPOPC3.

CODA – QUOTE OF THE DAY: “You may not like me after 40 years, but the question has to be: Who's going to better protect you? The real question is: If not me, who?” – Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) at a campaign rally on a Harlem street corner http://usat.ly/KDoXLf

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About The Author

James Hohmann is a reporter for POLITICO Pro.

He covered the 2012 presidential campaign from start to finish, authoring the daily Morning Score tipsheet for nearly two years as he reported from 23 states over the course of the primaries and general election. Through the fall, he traveled with Mitt Romney.

Hohmann spent 2010 chronicling the Republican Party’s drive to win control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

He arrived from The Washington Post at the end of 2009. Previously he wrote for the Los Angeles Times Washington bureau, the Dallas Morning News and The San Jose Mercury News.

An honors graduate of Stanford University, Hohmann studied American political history. He served as editor-in-chief of The Stanford Daily and wrote an award-winning thesis about the 1976 Republican primaries and the political ascendancy of Ronald Reagan.